Everyone knows Texas is great. Texas perfected football and baseball. Beyonce, Willie Nelson, Selena Gomez (apparently), and Six Flags are from Texas. Our barbecue is great, as are our music festivals, Mexican food, and Shiner Bock. While there’s no place like Texas, St. Louis comes close. Downtown St. Louis is home to two major league sports teams: the Rams and a little stickball team named the Cardinals (David Freese is from Texas, FYI). If those don’t suit you, you can root for their Kansas City equivalents, the Chiefs and the Royals. Beyonce may not be from St. Louis, but she and other famous non-St. Louis natives (Arcade Fire, Miley Cyrus, the Harlem Globetrotters, etc.) often stop by and show the city some love. Six Flags thought St. Louis was pretty cool, so they set up shop just south of the city. St. Louis does have barbecue; it’s different, but nonetheless tasty. And you CAN find tacos and Mexican food in St. Louis! You can pick up Shiner at any local Schnucks supermarket. Still not convinced? Know this: you can legally ride in the bed of pick-up trucks here, just like in Texas. Listen: St. Louis is a pretty great place, too. It rolls out a welcome mat and helps you feel at home. If I’ve learned one thing as a Texas transplant, it’s this: When you say you’re from Texas, no one needs to ask where that is. Y’all.
— Abe S., M1